Power roller skates



Oct? v A. PIRRELLO 2,857,008

, POWER ROLLER SKATES Filed Nov. 23, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Oct. 21, 1958 Filed Nov. 25, 1956 A; PIRRELLO POWER ROLLER SKATES 3Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ,4/vrcw/o P/EPEAAO A men/i) POWER ROLLER SKATESAntonio Pirrello, Lincoln Park, Mich. I Application November 23, 1956,Serial No. 623,932

3 Claims. (Cl. 180-1) This invention relates to power roller skates andin particular to improved power roller skate construction and controlmeans therefor.

There have been many prior attempts to apply power to roller skates,however, none has proven entirely satisfactory in that the prior artmeans for applying and controlling the power to roller skates did notpermit the skater to have full control of or properly perform a combinedroller skating and power skating function as a relatively unitarycoordinated sport without excessively increasing the hazard of fallingwhich is more incidental in power roller skating than in normal rollerskating.

Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide animproved power roller skate having its rear wheels powered from alightweight power pack carried on the back of a skater through aflexible shaft under the control of readily manipulable hand controlmeans.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power roller skatewherein the power is applied to the rear wheels thereof through asimple, inexpensive lightweight combined differential and free wheelingmeans.

A further object of the invention is to provide a power roller skate andpower control means therefor wherein only one of a pair of roller skatesneed be powered to carry on the sport of power roller skating in a safeand enjoyable manner.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent by reference to thefollowing detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a power roller skate embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rear wheel power unitembodying the invention for applying power to the rear wheels of aroller skate from a power source remote therefrom.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4 ofthe ratchet type differential and free wheeling mechanism preferablyemployed.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the improved means employed for maintainingcomplete control over the power applied to the power roller skate.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the control means disclosed in Fig.6.

Fig. 8 is an elevational view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 with aportion broken away to disclose the switch means preferably employed toground and shut off the engine.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of the power roller skate apparatusembodying the invention in use by a roller skater with a power packincorporating a conventional power source carried on the back of theskater, and with the manual control means of the invention carried inthe hand of the skater for instant control of the application powerroller skate disclosed 2,857,008 Patented Oct- 21, 1958 of power fromthe power source to the skate while engaging in the sport of powerroller skating.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like andcorresponding parts throughout the several views, the invention consistsof an improved power skate 10 including a chassis 11 having a fixedfront axle 12 onto which a pair of front wheels 13 are preferably ballbearing mounted, and a skate power unit 14 coinprising a pair of rearwheels 15 rotatably mounted on ball bearings 16 carried by a hollow rearfixed axle 17 and driven by a main drive shaft 18, stub shafts 19 andratchet means 20, the said power unit 14 being driven by a power pack 21preferably consisting of a conventional lightweight gasoline motor and aconventional clutch means (not shown) worn on the back of the skater 22.Power from the said power pack 21 is applied to the main shaft 18 of theskate power unit 14 through a flexible shaft 23 under control of theskater 22 by a novel combination throttle, clutch control and motorshut-off means incorporated in a single novel hand control unit 24carried by the skater and connected to the motor and clutch elements ofthe power pack 21, all as hereinafter more fully described in detail.

The chassis 11 of the power skate 10 includes a sole plate 25 and frontand rear axle brackets 26 and 27. The fixed front axle 12 is secured tothe front axle bracket 26 by a horn 28 telescoped into the front of thesaid front axle bracket 26 and by a stud 29 threaded into the rearthereof. In a similar manner, the skate power unit 14 is secured to therear axle bracket 27 by means of a horn 30 extending from the housing140 thereof and telescoped into the rear of the said rear axle bracket27 and by means of a stud 31 threaded into the front of said rear axlebracket 27. The said horn 30 extends rearwardly from an upper tongue 141of the housing of the skate power unit 14 while the stud 31 extendsthrough a lower tongue 142 of the said skate power unit housing 140. Astrut 32 is preferably disposed between the front and rear axle brackets26 and 27 and is held in place by the studs 29 and 31 respectively.Cushioning washers 290 and 310 are preferably impaled on the studs 29and 31 respectively to absorb some of the wheel shock transmitted to thechassis 11 and the skaters shoe 33 onto which the said chassis 11 issecured by suitable screws 34.

The housing 140 of the skate power unit 14 has a pair of hollow fixedaxles 17 fixed thereto extending laterally therefrom onto each of whichare rotatably mounted one of the rear skate wheels 15 by means ofsuitable preferably combined radial and thrust ball bearings 16. Theouter races of the said ball bearings 16 are pressed into 'the wheels15, and the inner races thereof are spaced by a suitable spacer and arefixed onto the fixed axles 17 by means of a nut 35 and lock nut 36threaded on the outer end of each of the said fixed axles 17. Thisconstruction permits the wheels 15 to rotate anti-frictio'nally 0n thehollow fixed axles 17. Each provided with a suitable relatively hardrubber the 150; however, the tire 150 or the entire wheel 15 may bemolded or otherwise formed of a suitable sistant material.

A hollow main drive shaft housing is secured by suitable studs 37 to thehousing 140 of the said skate power unit and communicates with thegearbox cavity 143 in the said housing 140. The main drive shaft 18 isrotatably mounted in the sai main drive shaft housing flexible shaftcoupling 40 is fixed and keyed on the outer end thereof by means of astud 41 and key 42. A bearing spacer sleeve 43 is disposed along themain drive shaft races of the ball bearings 38 so that the stud 41willhold wheel 15 is preferably non-metallic wear re- 38. A main drive bevel18 between the inner 3. the main drive shaft 18, the inner races of thebearings 38, the bevel drive gear 39, the sleeve 43 and the flexibleshaft coupling 40 axially together as a unitary driving unit. Suitableshoulders 181 are formed in the main drive shaft'housing lfiflandfun'ction to locate the outer races of the ball bearings'38" and themain drive shaft 18' with the bevel drive gear- 39 thereon in theirproper longitudinal location in said main drive shaft housing 180.

Each of the hollow rear axles 17 fixed to and extending laterally fromthe housing 140 of the skate power unit 141s suitably flanged and formedat 176 to accommodate theouterrace of a ball'bearing 44. A. bevel drivepinion 45 having, a hollow shaft 450 is meshed with the main drive bevelgear 39, and the hollow pinion shaft 450 is rotatablysupported on theinner races of the ball bearings 44. With this construction, the pinionshaft 450 is continuously driven by the flexible drive shaft 23 whencoupled to the flexible shaft coupling 40 of the main drive shaft 18.The details of the coupling of the flexible drive shaft 23 to theflexible shaft coupling 40 on the end of the main drive shaft 18, beingconventional, are not shown.

Each of the stub shafts 19 are rotatably mounted in, a rear axle 17 andhave their inner ends extending into and keyed to the hollow shaft 459of the drive pinion 45 by suitable: keys 46. The outer end of each stubshaft 19 is headed at 190 and is provided with a radially disposedratchet pawl 47 spring loaded radially outwardly by a suitablecompression spring 48. Turnable on the head 190 of the stub shaft 19 isa ratchet wheel 49 secured by suitable studs 490 to the skate wheel 15.The said ratchet wheel 49 has radially inwardly disposed ratchet teeth50 therein which are engaged by the spring loaded pawl 47 to drive thesaid rear wheel 15 of the power skatell). A cover plate 51 is secured bythe screws 510 over the outer face of the ratchet wheel 49. Thus, therear wheels 15 of the power skate are driven by the power means in thepower pack 21 in the direction indicated by the arrow 1500 through theflexible shaft 23, the main shaft 18, the bevel main gear 39 and beveldrive pinion 45, the hollow pinion shaft 450, the stub shaft 19 and thepawl 47 and ratchet 49. This propels the power skate 10 forwardresponsive to the hand control unit -24 carried by the skater.

If'the skater is moving faster than the power means propels the powerskate 10 through the rear driving wheels thereof, as, for example, whenthe power is shut off or cut off abruptly, then the said driving wheels15 ratchet in respect to the stub shafts 19 to provide a.

free wheeling effect. Also, in skating on a curve, a diflerential effectis provided between the two rear driving wheels 15 of thepower skate 10,the driving wheel on the inside of the curve supplying the skating powerwhile the other driving wheel ratchets. The foregoing is extremelyimportant because drag on both driving wheels is eliminated when thepower means is throttled down abruptly after skating under power at. agiven speed, and also because the differential effect provided permitsskating on turns of extremely small radius whereby completemaneuverability of the skater is present at all times whether undernormal skating, or power skating. The hand control of the power appliedto the power skate provides for instant fluctuation of the power skatingfunction in respect to the normal skating function. By reference to Fig.9, it will be noted that it is preferable to use only one power skate10, the other skate 160 being a normal roller skate without powerapplied thereto.

The power pack 21, not shown in detail because of its being ofconventional construction, preferably consists of a lightweight gasolineengine including a fuel tank, an ignition system, a gasoline system, anda clutch having an output shaft connected by suitable coupling means tothe flexible drive shaft 23. The throttle of the engine gasoline systemis under control of a tensioned throttle 4 control wire 60, the clutchis under control of a tensioned clutch control wire 61, and the ignitionsystem is under shut-off control by grounding it through an ignitiongrounding wire 62. The tensioned throttle control and clutch controlwires 60 and 61 are telescopingly contained in individual sheaths 600and 610 respectively, While the ignition grounding wire is covered withsuitable insulation 620.

The flexible drive shaft 23 is disposed in a suitable flexible sheath230 extending from the power pack 21 to the main drive shaft housing 180of the power skate 10 where the said flexible drive shaft 23 is suitablycoupled with the main drive shaft 18 at the flexible shaft couplingelement 40 thereon. The throttle control wire 60, the clutch controlwire 61, and the ignition grounding wire 62 are run from the power pack21 in a flexible sheath 65 to the hand control unit 24.

The said hand control unit 24 consists of a generally tubular plasticbody 66 into the rear end of which the sheaths 600 and 610 respectivelyof the throttle control and clutch control wires 60 and 61 together withthe grounding wire 62 in its insulation 620 are anchored by a suitableanchor block 67. The throttle wire 60 is wound around and suitablyanchored to a sheave 68 frictionally journaled on a stud 69 threadedinto one side of the body 66 of the said hand control unit 24. The saidsheave 68 is preferably so located as to be readily turned by theskaters right thumb to move the throttle wire 66 whereby to regulate thespeed at which the engine in the power pack 21 rotates, and thuslycontrol the rate of speed at which the power roller skate is driven.

A preferably metal clutch control lever 70 is pivoted on a pivot pin 71disposed through the bifurcated lower front end 660 of the body 66 ofthe hand control unit 24. The upper forward end of the said clutchcontrol lever 70 is formed at 700 to accept and hold an anchor 72 fixedon the front end of the tensioned clutch control wire 61). The tensionedclutch control wire 60 normally holds the clutch control lever 70 in itsoff or downward position as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Squeezing the clutchcontrol lever 79 engages the clutch in the power pack 21 and appliespower from the engine carried therein through the flexible drive shaft23 to the skate power unit 14.

A ground switch 75 in the form of a headed metal contact pin isreciprocatingly mounted through one wall of the plastic body 66 of thehand control unit 24 opposite a portion of the metal clutch controllever 70, and the ground switch contact pin 75 is resiliently held outof contact with the clutch control lever 70 by a suitable bifurcatedleaf spring 76 to which the grounding wire 62 is connected electricallythrough an anchor pin 77 which fixes the leaf spring 76 to the plasticbody 66 of the said hand control unit 24. By depressing the headedground switch contact pin 75, the ignition system of the engine in thepower pack 21 is grounded through the grounding wire 62 and the clutchcontrol wire 60 which is suitably grounded at the engine. This shuts offthe engine in the power pack 21 at the will of the skater.

Although it may be desired for extreme power skating speed to applypower to both skates of a pair of roller skates, with the hereinbeforedisclosed improved means for applying power to roller skates combinedwith the improved complete and facile manual control thereof as abovedescribed, it is only necessary to apply power to a single skate topermit a skater aptly and safely carry on the sport of power rollerskating.

Although but a single embodiment of the invention has been disclosed anddescribed in detail, it is obvious that many changes may be made in thesize, shape, ar-

rangement and construction of the several elements of the invention, allwithout departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for powering a roller skate from a source of power carried onthe back of the skater, said roller skate consisting of a chassisincluding a front axle with wheels rotatably mounted thereon and rearpower unit including a housing and fixed hollow axles mounted thereon incommunication therewith and extending laterally therefrom, power wheelsrotatably mounted on said hollow axles, a drive pinion in said housingincluding a hollow shaft rotatably mounted between said fixed hollowaxles in axial alignment therewith, a headed stub shaft rotatablymounted in each hollow axle telescoped into and keyed to said pinionshaft with the head of each stub shaft extending from the hollow axlemounting it, a ratchet wheel fixed to and rotatable with each powerwheel, a spring biased pawl in each said stub shaft head engageable withsaid ratchet wheel to drive each power wheel only in a direction todrive the skate forward responsive to the rotation of said pinion shaft,9. main drive shaft housing extending from said power unit housing, anda main drive shaft rotatably mounted in said main drive housingincluding a bevel drive gear thereon extending into said power unithousing and con-, stantly meshed with said drive pinion, and meanscoupling said source of power to said main drive shaft.

2. Means for powering a roller skate from-a source of power consistingof a gasoline engine having a clutch, throttle and ignition systemcarried on the back of the skater, said roller skate consisting of achassis including a front axle with wheels rotatably mounted thereon andrear power unit including a housing and fixed hollow axles mountedthereon in communication therewith and extending laterally therefrom,power wheels rotatably mounted on said hollow axles, a drive pinion insaid housing including a hollow shaft rotatably mounted between saidfixed hollow axles in axial alignment therewith, a stub shaft rotatablymounted in each hollow axle telescoped into and keyed to said pinionshaft with one end of each stub shaft extending from the hollow axlemounting it, a spring biased pawl and ratchet mechanism connecting eachstub shaft end to a power Wheel driving it independently of the otherpower wheel in a direction to drive the skate forwardly only responsiveto the rotation of said pinion shaft, said spring biased pawl beingreciprocatingly mounted in the member mounting it, a main drive shafthousing extending from said power unit housing and a main drive shaftrotatably mounted in said main drive housing including a bevel drivegear thereon extending into said power unit housing and constantlymeshed with said drive pinion, and means coupling said source of powerto said main drive shaft.

3. Means for powering a roller skate as claimed in claim 2 includinghand control means carried by the skater connected to said source ofpower, said hand control means consisting of a throttle control, clutchcontrol and ignition control means for regulating the application ofpower from said source of power to said main drive shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,012,847 Hatfield et al Dec. 26, 1911 1,348,568 Kemble Aug. 3, 19202,284,344 Russell May 26, 1942, 2,625,229 Van Voorhees Jan. 13, 1953FOREIGN PATENTS 835,558 Germany Apr. 3, 1952 513,031 Great Britain Dec.1, 1937 246,383 Italy Mar. 29, 1926

